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Action Alert: UK – Urge the release of Palestinian prisoners detained indefinitely

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Action Alert: UK – Urge the release of Palestinian prisoners detained indefinitely

30 August 2012

Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action Required
4. Sample letter

1. Summary

Palestinians have been regularly detained under Israel’s infamous and illegal ‘administrative detention’ law. They are consistently degraded and treated inhumanely throughout their prison sentences that go on indefinitely. Vigils are now being held fortnightly in their name outside the Israeli embassy in London. Write to William Hague demanding he act to help free these thousands of men.

2. Background

Israel has been implementing its infamous law of ‘administrative detention’ which imprisons an individual, charges them with nothing, sets no trial and locks them up indefinitely on a rolling 6 month prison sentence. This is illegal.

Three men who have been subjected to this law are Samer Al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and AymanSharawna. Due to their mistreatment, they are now all on hunger strike. Hassan Safadi and Samer Al-Barq are on renewed hunger strike after Israel broke its deal to release them. Previously they were on strike for 71 and 30 days respectively. They are currently in critical condition as they have been striking for over three and two months, respectively. Ayman has been on hunger strike since 1st July. This is the second time he has bee arrested and is being kept in solitary confinement. No charges have been brought against him.

The men are all in critical condition. They can hardly stand. Moreover on 16 August, news was received that Israeli prison guards had once again attacked Hassan and Samer smashing their heads on the iron doors of their cells until they were unconscious.

Join a vigil to protest in solidarity for these men on Saturday 1 September at 3pm outside the Israeli embassy in London.

3. Action Required

Write to the UK foreign minister requesting him to put pressure on the Israeli government to free the Palestinian prisoners.

4. Sample letter

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A sample letter is given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters. It is preferable that letters be sent via post, or otherwise by fax and/or email.
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a. Minister of foreign affairs in the UK. (UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk)

[Your name]
[Your address]

[Date]

Rt. Hon. William Hague
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH

Dear Mr. Hague,

Re: The ongoing detainment of Palestinian prisoners under an illegal law

I am deeply concerned over the continued imprisonment of Palestinians by Israeli authorities. Israel has been implementing its infamous law of ‘administrative detention’ which imprisons an individual, fails to bring charges against them, sets no trial and locks them up indefinitely on a rolling 6 month prison sentence. This is illegal.

Three men who have been subjected to this law are Samer Al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna. Due to their mistreatment, they are now all on hunger strike. Samer and Hassan have been striking for over three and two months, respectively. Ayman has been on hunger strike since 1st July. This is the second time he has bee arrested and is being kept in solitary confinement. No charges have been brought against any of them.

This is inhumane and disgraceful. Why have you not demanded the release of the men as they are being held illegally? The Israelis cannot continue with these actions, and you must ensure that they are stopped. You cannot continue to be complicit in the climate of fear and oppression in Israel.

I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this urgent matter,

Yours sincerely,

[Your signature]
[Your name]

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“And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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